Methods and compositions for consolidating proppant in subterranean fractures
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorsPhilip D. Nguyen, Johnny A. Barton
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Abstract
Improved methods and compositions for consolidating proppant in subterranean fractures are provided. In accordance with a method of the invention, proppant particles coated with a furfuryl alcohol resin composition are mixed with a gelled liquid fracturing fluid and the fracturing fluid is pumped into a subterranean zone. The fracturing fluid forms one or more fractures in the subterranean zone and deposits the proppant particles coated with the resin composition therein. Thereafter, the hardenable resin composition on the proppant particles is allowed to harden by heat and consolidate the proppant particles into chemical and thermal degradation resistant permeable packs.
Claims32
An improved method of forming one or more fractures in a subterranean zone penetrated by a well bore and consolidating proppant particles therein, the subterranean zone having a temperature above about 200° F. comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing proppant particles coated with a hardenable resin composition comprising furfuryl alcohol resin, furfuryl alcohol, a solvent for said resin selected from the group consisting of dipropylene glycol methyl ether, dipropylene glycol dimethyl ether, diethylene glycol methyl ether, ethylene glycol butyl ether, diethylene glycol butyl ether, dimethyl formamide, propylene carbonate, butyl acetate, furfuryl acetate, d'limonene and fatty acid methyl esters, a silane coupling agent, and a surfactant for facilitating the coating of said resin on said proppant particles and for causing said resin to flow to the contact points between adjacent resin coated proppant particles;
- (b) providing a gelled liquid fracturing fluid;
- (c) pumping said gelled liquid fracturing fluid into said subterranean zone to form said one or more fractures and to deposit said proppant particles therein;
- (d) mixing said proppant particles coated with said hardenable resin composition with said fracturing fluid pumped in accordance with step (c) whereby said proppant particles coated with said hardenable resin composition are suspended therein;
- (e) terminating steps (c) and (d) when said proppant particles coated with said hardenable resin composition have been deposited in said one or more fractures;
- and;
- (f) allowing said hardenable resin composition on said resin composition coated proppant particles to harden by heat and consolidate said proppant particles into one or more chemical and thermal degradation resistant permeable packs.
An improved method of forming one or more fractures in a subterranean zone penetrated by a well bore and consolidating proppant particles therein, the subterranean zone having a temperature above about 200° F. comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a liquid hardenable resin composition comprised of furfuryl alcohol resin, furfuryl alcohol, an ethylene glycol butyl ether solvent for said resin, an n-beta-(aminoethyl)-gamma-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane coupling agent and a C12-C22 alkyl phosphate surfactant;
- (b) providing a source of dry proppant particles;
- (c) providing a gelled liquid fracturing fluid comprised of water and a gelling agent selected from the group consisting of guar gum, guar gum derivatives and cellulose derivatives;
- (d) pumping said gelled liquid fracturing fluid into said subterranean zone to form said one or more fractures therein and to place said proppant particles therein;
- (e) coating said hardenable resin composition onto said dry proppant particles conveyed from said source thereof to form hardenable resin composition coated proppant particles;
- (f) mixing said hardenable resin composition coated proppant particles formed in step (e) with said fracturing fluid pumped in accordance with step (d) whereby said hardenable resin composition coated proppant particles are suspended therein;
- (g) terminating steps (d), (e) and (f) when said hardenable resin composition coated proppant particles have been placed in said one or more fractures;
- and;
- (h) allowing said hardenable resin composition on said hardenable resin composition coated proppant particles to harden by heat and consolidate said proppant particles into one or more corrosion and thermal degradation resistant permeable packs.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.